Life on the Colorado River

Buckskin Mountain State Park is on a point where the CO River flows around a corner. Across the river is CA and another RV park. We are camped up against a mountain which blocks the sun most of the day so it is rather a cool spot. Thursday after we pulled in and got settled, we drove along the river road looking at other RV parks, checked out the Emerald Canyon Golf Course (since it is the only one in the area it is very busy), and drove through the Parker Strip. One the way back we stopped at the Pirates Den Bar where happy hour started at 4 pm and they had Karaoke. It was 4:30 and the retirees had the run of the place, some were 2-fisted drinkers and several thought they could sing. It was FUN!! John figured it would be dead at 7 PM!

Friday we hiked, did laundry and rested so that on Saturday we would be ready to off-road in the Jeep out to the Desert Bar. We’ve been there a couple of other times and enjoy the ride out as much as the beer and food they serve. The bar is situated 5 miles out into the desert on what used to be Willie E Mine. Their only power is from solar, and until recently they hauled the water in. There is live music, fried foods, beer and liquor and lots and lots of people. When we got our food, we found an empty table then one couple joined us then two more couples sat down and it was as if we had been friends for years instead of just a couple of hours. In fact, one lady asked how long we had known each other!

Quartzite Con’t

Sunday, Jan 21 we took the Jeep out for a run. About 10 miles south of town is a National Wildlife Refuge with a Palm Canyon hike. We left the RV unprepared without extra water, extra jackets, no poles and regular tennis shoes. The hike to the palm trees was longer than we expected, on rougher terrain and the wind was bitingly cold. We turned around and went back home.

Monday and Tuesday found us in the big tent looking at stuff for RVers like food, dresses, hand lotion, specialized cookware, bedspreads & pillows - you know - stuff! Actually we did talk to industry people about braking for tow cars, air pressure monitors, water pumps, solar panels, tow bars and caravan tours. We signed up for a caravan tour to the Canadian Maritimes Provences, got a new water pump, learned something about our new tire pressure monitor, and teased the Blue Ox folks about the stickers on their new tow bar.

Wednesday we did the Palm Canyon hike only this time it was warmer and we were prepared. Nature is amazing. These 40 some palm trees were surviving in the crevasses of rock walls at the back of the canyon where there must have been some water but we can’t imagine there was any dirt in that rock slit. While on the hike we got a call from friends from home who were in Quartzite and wanted to meet. We had a lovely afternoon with them at the Yacht Club.

One week in the desert it enough for me, so on Thursday we headed north a whopping 32 miles to Buckskin Mountain State Park on the Colorado River.

Desert Living

I havent posted in awhile because we haven’t done anything really exciting. When we left White Tanks we spent a night in Buckeye so we could prepare for our stay in Quartzite.

We arrived in Quartzite early on Thursday so we missed a lot of the traffic that is expected for the RV Show and Gem and Mineral Show which start on Saturday. Our spot in the desert is near where we stayed three years ago so basicly 1-1/2 miles from town on the side of a large wash, with few neighbors, in the desert.

Our daily routine is to sleep until 7, breakfast at 8, bike into town around 9 or so, back at the RV mid-afternoon for naps, walk or go back to town, then supper and a quiet evening until bedtime. There are several miles of vendors selling anything you might need like tools, kitchen supplies, RV supplies, outdated food and drugs, not to mention tons and tons of gems, beads and rocks! Then there are the junk/collectables vendors; fair clothes, hats, belts, & scarves sellers; honey, oil, soap, etc; and food, of course, like corn dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, cinnamon rolls, tacos, gyros and the list goes on. And did i say junk?!

We met friends Sharon and Dwight for lunch on Saturday. Haven’t heard of any other acquaintences in the area.

Jackass Junction

There is no oasis here, there is no oasis near here. If you are searching for an oasis please continue your journey.

North of Fountain Hills/Scottsdale is McDowell Mountain Regional Park with over 65 miles of hiking and biking trails into the desert and up small ridges, mountains and into washes. On one of these trails we stopped at Jackass Junction, an intersection of several trails where a group of runners has erected a pavillion where one can rest in the shade. Decorating that pavillion are empty beer cans hung to clang like wind chimes, a stark white skeleton sitting on the roof clutching his own empty beer can and a sign with the above quote.

We are staying in the park for a week of hiking, biking and warming up. We biked several easy trails, a couple of more difficult ones (by that I mean up hill and over big rocks, some walking involved) and John has done at least one very difficult trail after I turned around and went back as it was more than I could handle. We are enjoying the desert sun rises and sunsets, a rainstorm and visiting with other campers and bikers.

Wanderlust Released

On October 1, 2016 we stored the RV (except for a Memorial weekend jaunt) so that we could explore the world and build a house. About three months ago the wanderlust that propels us out into the RV or around the world and into many adventures started percolating to the surface. At a point when we were finished with building and furnishing our new home and entertaining our friends and family over the holidays the wanderlust exploded and we loaded up the RV. On Jan 3, in the midst of a terrible cold spell, we set out for the warm weather promised by Arizona and southern California.

We spent 12 hours one day trying to escape the frigid climate and eventually landed in Las Cruces. We un-winterized the RV, filled her with water and took off again, landing in Bisbee, AZ where we found some fine dining and explored the city and its numerous art galleries hunting for artwork for our new home. We even found a canyon rim hike to start working off the holiday sweets.